Where upscale Americans are heading for fall and winter holidaysWhere upscale Americans are heading for fall and winter holidays

Following those countries, in order, are South Africa, Spain, Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands and Germany. Rounding out the Top 10 destinations is China.

Virtuoso sourced data from its warehouse of more than $40.7bn in transactions to come up with the most in-demand destinations for the coming fall and festive season.

As summer turns to autumn, cooler weather doesn't dampen enthusiasm for Europe, which took six of the top 10 slots on the list. The Netherlands and Germany are particularly popular options for river cruisers wanting to visit the Christmas markets.

Other travelers are focusing on warm-weather spots such as South Africa, Mexico and Australia. In particular, Virtuoso said, South Africa continues to attract upscale explorers due to its wide array of adventure experiences. Increasingly, travelers are also discovering China for its combination of compelling history, rapid growth, improving infrastructure and increased luxury offerings.

The findings were announced during the 29th annual Virtuoso Travel Week taking place in Las Vegas Aug. 12-18, luxury travel’s largest and most prestigious event as well as the travel industry’s counterpart to Fashion Week.